Before traveling healthcare professionals can hit the road and start making a positive impact, there are a few important compliance boxes to check. For healthcare travelers, compliance ensures you’re fully prepared, properly credentialed, and ready to provide top-notch care wherever you go.

While it may not necessarily be the highlight of your travel nursing or allied health travel journey, it does matter — and we’re here to break it down for you.   

• Why the compliance process matters
• What to expect + what you’ll need
• Compliance tips for healthcare travelers
• ✨BONUS✨ Frequently asked questions

Compliance Requirements Made Clear: A Guide for Fusion Travelers

Why the compliance process matters

Think of completing compliance as the green light that signals you’re set and ready to start your healthcare travel assignment. Not only do compliance requirements exist to help ensure you feel calm, cool, and confident on every travel job, but they’re also important because compliance enforces standardization and empowers you to provide safe, high-quality patient care.

Download compliance infographic!

Additionally, being compliant with facility and state regulations further protects you as a healthcare professional by making sure you have the right credentials and clearances to work without any unexpected hiccups. Non-compliance can delay your start date and even put your entire travel job at risk. Ultimately, compliance requirements are there to help keep you secure and prepared while on assignment.

What to expect + what you’ll need

Regardless of whether you're fresh into your healthcare travel career or a seasoned professional, the compliance process can feel like ✨a lot. ✨ Here’s what you can expect as we process compliance together.

Once your contract is signed, sealed, delivered, the compliance process kicks off. The good news is your compliance support team at Fusion Medical Staffing is here to walk you through it and answer any questions you have along the way.

“Realistically, compliance is just a highly accelerated onboarding process,” said Tammy Morris, Fusion Medical Staffing senior compliance specialist. “At Fusion, you’ll talk to at least three different folks — your compliance specialist, background specialist, and I-9 specialist. If more information is needed, a verification specialist may reach out, as well. So, it can seem a little intense but it’s generally just a lot of checking things off lists.”  

First, you’ll receive a welcome email that outlines everything you need to know about your compliance requirements. Over the next couple of weeks, our compliance team will check in with you to help with things like background checks, I-9 verification, and required documents. You’ll get reminders by call, text, and email to keep things moving. Then, a week before your start date, we’ll do one final compliance check to confirm all i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.

When it comes to what you’ll need, some compliance requirements may include:

✅A background consent form

✅Any state-specific background instructions, if applicable

✅A drug screening

✅TB skin test or blood draw

✅MMR, Varicella, and Hep B vaccines or titers

✅Flu and COVID-19 vaccine information

✅Physical exam results 

✅Fit test results

✅AHA-certified certifications (such as BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc.)

✅Legal identification

✅Diploma or official transcripts of highest level of education

✅An online specialty competency exam, annual OSHA core tests, and testing completed via Relias, RN.com, or Symplyr

✅I-9 form

✅Facility-specific forms

✅Fusion-specific forms

Compliance takes time and effort, but with us, you never have to navigate regulatory standards alone.

Compliance tips for healthcare travelers

Keep your health records organized and readily available

There are often a lot of documents and health records that must be submitted during compliance and having them ready to go saves time and prevents unnecessary headaches.

One of the best ways to have them accessible is by keeping digital copies on your phone, laptop, or tablet. That way, you won’t have to track them down every time you start a new assignment.

"We love when travelers have a nice, neat little folder on their computer or phone with all their health records," said Deb Schleusener, Fusion Medical Staffing senior compliance specialist. "When we have all of that, we can determine what new items we need you to complete at the clinic and can really speed up the process."

Start the process ASAP

Compliance + procrastination = amplified stress. So, it’s better to get started as soon as you can.

“Being as productive as possible goes a long way,” said Fusion Medical Staffing Senior Compliance Specialist Tom Frankenfield. “You may be working on a current assignment or on vacation, but we can find opportunities to kind of cater to your schedule.”

Starting early gives you wiggle room for any surprises and ensures you’re not rushed to meet deadlines. Also, facility deadlines can be two-to-three weeks before your actual start date, so it’s crucial you submit information ASAP to stay on track.

“There’s just a lot of requirements,” said Deb. “We love when you’re able to be proactive because the first 72 hours are crucial.”

Stay connected with your compliance team

When it comes to compliance, communication truly is key. Some compliance requirements are time-sensitive, and if we can’t reach you or don’t know what you need, it could delay your start date.

“I want our travelers to know that they can come to us directly when they’re facing challenges that are compliance-related,” said Fusion Medical Staffing Senior Compliance Specialist Lexa Wise.

“There’s a lot on your shoulders,” said Tammy. “If you’re frustrated, having issues, or something doesn’t work for you, please let us know. I think there’s this weird stigma around coming back to us and saying that something isn’t working, and I wish there wasn’t. I like fixing problems! It’s part of my job, it’s great.”

The compliance process can feel overwhelming at times, but with us, you have an entire team of compliance experts, in addition to your recruiter by your side. Keeping the lines of communication open with your compliance team helps prevent roadblocks before they happen and fosters the support you need.  

Frequently asked questions

Who determines compliance requirements?

Compliance requirements for healthcare travelers come from several levels and vary depending on where you’re working.

“Different facilities have different requirements and what worked for your last assignment may not work for your next,” Tammy said. “It depends on who owns the facility and the state it’s in. There are also regulatory requirements at the federal level, so the more information you can provide, the better.”

Staying on top of these different requirements is a team effort, with Fusion Medical Staffing’s compliance team supporting you through it all.

How long does the compliance process take?

The timeline for compliance can look a bit different for each healthcare traveler. It depends on things like your specialty and how quickly all your documents and tests can be submitted. If you’re applying for new licensure, it may add a little more time since some states have longer processing periods. Because there’s a lot of factors at play, the process may take more or less time depending on your situation.

To help keep things rolling, your compliance team will send regular updates so everyone’s proactive, organized, and on the same page.

In what ways does Fusion support me in the compliance process?

The best part about working with us is that we genuinely care about you, and that commitment shines through in the ways we lift you up throughout the compliance process. We’re not just checking boxes — we’re here to help make sure you feel confident every step of the way.

“I think the customer service piece, the hands-on piece is something that Fusion really strives for,” said Tom. “And I think that sets us apart from other companies.”

Our team is dedicated to making the compliance process as smooth as possible, so you can focus on the exciting parts of your healthcare travel journey without undue stress.

“The compliance process with Fusion is the most traveler-centric process that I’ve been a part of,” said Tammy. “It’s focused on making the process the easiest for our travelers and I think it’s probably the smoothest and best laid out in our industry.”

"We're here for you," said Deb. "You're going through a lot of changes with life, and we're there for you beyond compliance. We know that compliance is not always the most fun part of your journey and that you want to get on the road so you can start serving your patients; we want you to know that we will help you along your path."

At Fusion Medical Staffing, we’re committed to being with you for compliance every step in every state, providing guidance, support, and a little extra encouragement when you need it. When we work together to be proactive, maintain requirements, and stay connected, we can tackle the process without unnecessary stress. Even though compliance may feel like a lot, it can be a small hurdle on the way to your next big adventure!